The total count of victims due to the transport jet which ignited and went down has now climbed to 13, according to official reports.
Official's Statement
“On my way to the Union’s memorial service, I was informed of a 13th person that died as a result of the UPS flight 2976 accident,” expressed the city mayor in a public communication. “My prayers are with the loved ones, companions and colleagues of all who were lost in this week’s disaster. We will get through this together.”
Deceased Identified
A release from UPS named the pilots aboard the jet as Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and Relief Captain Dana Diamond.
“Our sympathies are extended to all employee who has been touched and everyone in our Louisville community – helping you and ensuring you get the care and aid you need is our main concern,” the firm’s communication expressed.
Investigation Findings
National investigators revealed that the freight aircraft’s left wing ignited and an motor fell off just after departure from the aviation hub, resulting in the plane to crash and burst into a inferno.
The safety agency announced it is investigating the aircraft’s service record, that was in the state for repairs several weeks ahead of the crash.
Flight tracking records revealed the plane was on the ground in that location from the start of last month to mid-October.
“We are knowledgeable that this plane was located in that city,” remarked an official on Thursday, not giving a specific time frame. “We will look at each aspect of maintenance that was performed, including the repair visit, all the way to the day of the flight.”
Retrieval of Critical Items
The pilot’s recorder and data recorder were retrieved, and the motor was discovered on the runway.
The devices – called black boxes – were constructed to endure collision damage and extreme temperatures from infernos, and they appeared to be intact when located amid the remains. Investigators intend to examining information from the devices.
Jet’s last recorded information indicated an altitude of 475 ft and a rate of that speed prior to the impact.
Maintenance Record
According to aviation authority records dated that date, a fracture on a part in the tank area needed maintenance.
Singapore-based ST Engineering, which said it provides structural repairs for UPS’s MD-11 and manages a maintenance center in San Antonio, chose not to comment, but said it would work closely when investigators contacted it.
Operations Resume
Meanwhile, the facility activities resumed that evening with its overnight or night sort process, representative a representative stated. The three tarmacs at the aviation hub were also open again.
The UPS package handling facility in the city is the company’s largest. The hub engages in excess of a large number of people in the locality, manages numerous flights each day and organizes more than 400,000 items an hour.
Local Response
A memorial was conducted on the late afternoon of 6 November by the local worker’s group, which supports workers at the airfield, the company’s primary freight center.
Worker representatives, which supports staff, started the memorial with a moment of silence at 5.14pm, the approximate hour of the accident two days earlier.
“This event was so unexpected, so unforeseen,” the leader told the crowd of attendees. “No one had a moment to part to any of those who we have mourned.”
